Today’s News, Tuesday , Sept.16

[denime]

MLS: Toronto mayor wants grass, at BMO Field

Toronto Mayor David Miller continues to earn the votes of the ever-fickle Toronto FC fan with his quasi-commitment to get grass at BMO Field by next season in this YouTube video (comments come in at 9:00 mark).

Miller's comments came after Toronto FC's 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew over the weekend and were initially reported here. Miller says he is working on replacing the FieldTurf at BMO Field with real grass by next year and, ever the politician, makes it clear that there are no guarantees.

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Toronto FC looks to future as trade deadline passes
But Carver's priority is the next six games and making the playoffs
Morgan Campbell

Major League Soccer's trade and transfer deadline passed yesterday and Toronto FC – next to last in the league but still in playoff contention – didn't make any major last-minute moves.
By the time yesterday's practice session ended head coach John Carver was already discussing overhauling next year's roster with big names at key positions, but said nobody at TFC had given up on making the playoffs this season.
TFC has six games left. The top three in each division qualify, as do the next two best wild cards.
"My priority is now, these next six games," Carver said. "But I'd be ignorant if I didn't start thinking about (next year)."
And Carver's thinking hard.

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A star designated player in Toronto FC's future plans

Plans are afoot to bring a star "designated player" to Toronto FC, according to coach John Carver.
Toronto sits in last place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference, six points out of a playoff spot with six games remaining in the regular season.
Carver insists he hasn't thrown in the towel on the current campaign, but he has talked to general manager Mo Johnston about ways they can improve the club for the next season. The top priority is signing a designated player.
"I'll guarantee you that this will definitely happen by the start of next season. I'm guaranteeing it," Carver told reporters Monday afternoon.

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Carver pictures bright future for TFC

By Ryan Johnston

Toronto FC head coach John Carver insists he is focused on the final six games of the current season; however, the excitement of what he guarantees will come in the offseason is too much to suppress.

"I would be ignorant if I was not thinking about next year and how we are going to build the team for next year," Carver said during his Monday Q&A session at BMO Field. "I have pictures in my head of what the team will be like next year. I would be wrong for to not be thinking about next season, but my priority at the moment is this season and not giving up on the situation."

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James aims for regular start
Defender wants to establish himself

Toronto FC defender Julius James is determined to establish himself as a first team regular. James returned from international duty to play in the Reds defence against Columbus Crew on Saturday and was named the Carlsberg Man of the Match. "I really enjoyed the game and I felt really good," said James. "Tyrone Marshall and Jimmy Brennan were talking to me a lot and I had a lot of support from everyone on the team. I think we could have won the game because we had a lot of chances but unfortunately we came up short. There is a good mentality in the camp and it was great to have all of the guys back together."

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Carver plans short and long term
Reds coach not giving up on playoffs

Toronto FC coach John Carver is not giving up on making the playoffs, but plans are already well underway to strengthen the team in 2009. With six games remaining, the Reds are six points away from the playoff places but the Reds players are still in confident mood. "Everyone here is still determined to make the playoffs," said Carver. "Morale is good and the players are working hard with a very good attitude. If people were walking around with their heads down I would think they have given up on it, but that's not the case."

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SUNSHINE

[Smuttynose]

hahaha parky made the post!! that'll put some more pressure on the city lol

and mayor miller is a member of the RPB?? am i missing something?

[scooter]

thanks denime

[Oldtimer]

Los Angeles is worth the most: a cool $100 million. Kansas City is worth the least ($22 million). Only three teams turned a profit in 2007 (L.A., Toronto FC and, surprisingly, FC Dallas, which I swear averages about 17 fans for its games), while both New York and Columbus were $4.5 million in the red. And odds are that the price tag of an expansion team will soon be $50 million.
What does all this have to do with the price of tea in China, as certain of my family members like to say? The numbers put one thing front and center: MLS is no longer North America's bargain-basement league.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...15/forbes.nyc/

[Oldtimer]

Derek Gaudet hopes his 27-minute Major League Soccer debut with Toronto FC is a sign of things to come.

The Bayside midfielder became the second Nova Scotian to play in a regular-season MLS game in last Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Chivas USA before a crowd of 19,863 at BMO Field.

http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/sports/article/112744

When it comes to national teams, CONCACAF's upper crust is well established as the United States, Mexico and Costa Rica are in a class of their own.
But in terms of leagues, there hasn't been a truly effective method of sorting out the region's best before today.
Today marks the official beginning of the CONCACAF Champions League, the confederation's newest and most in-depth method of sorting out a regional club champion. The tournament replaces the eight-team CONCACAF Champions Cup, which was a far cry from the new-look version.

http://www.pe.com/sports/columns/sto...6.209f530.html

Senators owner Eugene Melnyk will hold a news conference today at Scotiabank Place to announce his bid for an MLS franchise and plans for a new soccer stadium.
Traian Mateas, head coach of FC Capital United soccer club, believes two factors will determine the success of a professional soccer franchise in Ottawa: The owner must have deep pockets, and he must be able to engage the local soccer community.

http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAn...77061-sun.html

[DOMIN8R]

I had a personal workout session with Paul Winsper. And based on my conversations with hima and staff member, it's pretty clear that the players want and expect that they will make the playoffs.

[Fort York Redcoat]

I hope this is no piecrust promise.

A DP that looks good on the pitch but fits the team Carver builds over the next month and the off season.

[Technorgasm]

Parky with an actual. . reportable, quoted SCOOP?

what is this world coming to?! AWESOME!

WALK ON.

DP & Grass. . .I'll believe it, when I see it.

Thanks Denime

[flatpicker]

hahahahaaaaa!!!!!!!

Parkdale - mild-mannered reporter!!!!

[Ossington Mental Youth]

I had a personal workout session with Paul Winsper. And based on my conversations with hima and staff member, it's pretty clear that the players want and expect that they will make the playoffs.

Oh man, how was that?
Grueling?

[DOMIN8R]

Yes. On maaaaaany levels. Very informative. I learned alot aboout sports specific training, TFC player specific training, sports psychology, how Paul Winsper works/thinks and I am effen sore today!

I had a lot of fun. Paul Winsper is a great guy and Bree was a wonderful as well - if you anyone from TFC office is reading this!

[Nodoubtguy]

way to go Parky!!
denime, thanks for doing this every day!!

[James17930]

I had a personal workout session with Paul Winsper. And based on my conversations with hima and staff member, it's pretty clear that the players want and expect that they will make the playoffs.

Somebody obviously forgot to tell them you need to win games to make the playoffs.